Hello fellow Ecologists, Im in the process of putting together my Ph.D. Research Advisory Committee and I need your help. My present committee members want me to emphasize the human ecology aspect of my dissertation. As part of my project, I plan to analyze the hurricane-hazard vulnerability of Caribbean resident human populations in much the same way I would analyze the effect the physical environment has on any species population and their habitat. My committee would like me to bring on-board a contemporary Human Ecologist with an interest in population responses to hazards. So I am looking for a population ecologist with a background in disturbance ecology. They would like me to find someone well established in the traditional community of ecologists, but also interested in embracing the human ecology approach. In addition, Ideally I would like to find someone who is willing and able to commute once a year for the next 3 years (about) to the College Park campus of the University of Maryland (UMCP). UMCP has a D.C. Metro rail station and MarcTrain light-rail station nearby. This means we could consider asking a candidate from any of the academic institutions, think tanks, NGOs, or government agencies in the D.C. area.
I know this is a tall task. My lure for attracting someone like this is my absolutely incredible committee! Present members are Bahram Momen, Ph.D., my main advisor, Lewis E. (Ed) Link, P.E., Ph.D., Gerald E. Galloway, P.E., Ph.D., and Matthias Ruth, Ph.D., all of the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Momen is a forest physiology ecologist and an awesome statistician. Hes Director of the Biometrics Program and Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Statistics in the Environmental Science and Technology Department, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dr. Link and General Galloway are both Senior Research Engineers in the Glenn L. Martin School of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Dr. Link is also the Director of the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET), the federal governments team performing forensic analysis of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on New Orleans. General Galloway is retired from the Army Corps of Engineers. He works, at various times, as a consultant on water resources policy and management for the Corps, the Presidents office, the Pentagon, and private corporations. He is also Professor in the UMCP School of Engineering. Matthias Ruth is the UMCP School of Public Policy Roy F. Weston Chair in Natural Economics, Director of the Center for Integrative Environmental Research, Director of the Environmental Policy Program, and Co-Director of Engineering and Public Policy. All are brilliant and completely interdisciplinary in their thought patterns. They have no fear when it comes to thinking in new directions. This eclectic combination will make for interesting discussions as I develop my dissertation. Im hoping I can locate a high-profile population/disturbance ecologist whos game for all of this enjoyable, thought-provoking interaction. Can you help me find some possible candidates? Beth Olsen ____________________________________ V. Beth Kuser Olsen, M.S. Doctoral student Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science Graduate Program Bahram Momen Lab H.J. Patterson Hall University of Maryland College Park MD 20742
